The Running of the Wine Horses
A unique fiesta that commemorates a decisive moment in the reconquest.
The Running of the Wine Horses is an annual event that takes place on May 2nd in Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia. It's part of the festival in honour of Santisima y Vera Cruz and involves parades, re-enactments, and a horse race.
The horses are the stars of the show, dressed in embroidered silk and gold thread cloaks, bells, and headgear. The tradition of breeding these magnificent animals and creating their attire has been passed down from generation to generation and is an important part of the area's history, culture, and economy. Prizes are awarded during the festival for the quality of the cloaks, as well as the race itself.
During the festival, participants dress in white shirts, black pants, and red bandanas and sashes. The race involves an exciting 8-second dash up an 80-meter hill to the castle, with four handlers guiding each horse. The horses must be kept calm and under control amidst the noise and crowds, and if the handlers lose their grip at any point, they're disqualified.
The packed crowd parts as the horse approaches which is rather nerve-wracking. It's unclear whether the last second parting is a show of bravery against the oncoming gallop or a way to prevent the horse from bolting with its handlers still hanging on. A spooked or confused horse can change direction at any time, leaving the handlers flailing and losing limbs. The winner is the horse that makes it to the castle in the shortest amount of time with all four handlers still attached.
The race is called the Running of the Wine Horses because of a clever tactic used during a battle between the Moors and the Christians. During a siege, the Moors poisoned the town's water supply, but the Knights Templar came to the town’s rescue by tying flagons of wine to their horses and racing up the hill to the castle before the Moors could capture them.
There are re-enactments of the festival which include Moors, Christian Knights, and gigantes (giants). Check out this video for the festival in action.